A delegation of manufacturers, led by Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, who represents Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat, met Chidambaram and asked him to withdraw the duty which was imposed last year.

"We met regarding an issue from our area. The hosiery industry had an exception from central excise duty from 2004 to 2011. In the 2012, excise duty was imposed which has created burden on this sector," Tewari told reporters after the meeting.

"Since Ludhiana is considered as the hub of hosiery production, it was felt that what everyone feels should reach the finance minister, because the budget will come soon. And all of us should take our thoughts to the finance minister and hope that he will take cognisance of the concerns," he said.

Ludhiana-based Knitwear Club general secretary Narinder Miglani said that the excise duty was hurting the industry in view of cheap imports from China and Bangladesh.

He also said that since the policy is to levy excise duty on branded clothes, all clothes, including those made for the poor and have labels are considered fit for the tax.